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NCAA Women's Final Four Concludes with South Carolina Victory and Coaching Interaction; Men's Tournament Advances to Final Four

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The NCAA Basketball Tournament: Final Fours, Coach Interaction, and Expansion Debates

The NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament saw all four No. 1 seeds advance to the Final Four in Phoenix, where South Carolina defeated UConn in a national semifinal game marked by a post-game interaction between coaches. Meanwhile, the Men's NCAA Tournament progressed through its early rounds, Sweet Sixteen, and Elite Eight, with Final Four matchups now underway in Indianapolis, leading up to the championship game. Discussions regarding the potential expansion of the tournament field also continued.

Women's NCAA Tournament: Final Four and Semifinal Outcome

The 2026 NCAA Women's Final Four, held on Friday, April 3, at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, featured all four No. 1 seeds for the second consecutive season: UConn, UCLA, Texas, and South Carolina. This was the fifth time in tournament history that all four No. 1 seeds reached this stage.

Semifinal Matchups

  • South Carolina vs. UConn
  • Texas vs. UCLA

Both games were broadcast on ESPN.

Team Overviews

  • UConn (38-0 entering Final Four): The defending national champions, coached by Geno Auriemma, were pursuing their seventh undefeated season and 13th national championship. Key players included First-team All-Americans Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd. The Huskies led the country in assists and field-goal percentage and had extended a 54-game winning streak.

  • South Carolina (35-3 entering Final Four): Coached by Dawn Staley, the Gamecocks had reached seven of the last nine Final Fours, securing three national championships. The team featured five players averaging double-figure scoring, led by Second-team All-American Joyce Edwards. Their defense limited opponents to an average of 57.6 points per game.

  • UCLA (35-1 entering Final Four): Making their second consecutive Final Four appearance, the Bruins were seeking their first national championship. The team was anchored by 6-foot-7, two-time All-American Lauren Betts, who averaged 18.5 points and 7.6 rebounds.

  • Texas (36-3 entering Final Four): The Longhorns were making consecutive Final Four trips for the second time in program history and had previously defeated UCLA in November. Led by fifth-year guard Rori Harmon and All-American forward Madison Booker, Texas had dominated its NCAA Tournament opponents.

South Carolina Defeats UConn in Semifinal

South Carolina defeated UConn 62-48 in their semifinal matchup.

This loss ended UConn's 54-game winning streak and their bid for an undefeated season, concluding their season with a 38-1 record. UConn's 48 points marked their lowest offensive output since a 2022 national championship game loss to South Carolina.

The game was characterized by strong defense from both teams. South Carolina, trailing 26-24 at halftime, initiated a 12-2 run in the third quarter to take the lead, eventually extending their advantage. UConn responded with a series of three-pointers, narrowing the deficit to one point at 40-39, but South Carolina maintained control, leading 44-39 by the end of the third quarter and securing the win in the fourth.

Individual performances included:

  • South Carolina: Ta’Niya Latson led with 16 points, and Agot Makeer contributed 14 points.
  • UConn: Sarah Strong recorded 12 points and 12 rebounds on 4-of-16 shooting, while Azzi Fudd scored eight points on 3-of-15 shooting. UConn finished the game shooting 31.1% from the field, their lowest percentage of the season.

UConn was assessed 17 fouls, compared to eight fouls against South Carolina.

Post-Game Interaction Between Coaches Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley

Following the South Carolina victory over UConn, an on-court verbal exchange occurred between UConn head coach Geno Auriemma and South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley. The interaction took place in the final seconds of the game and continued after the final buzzer, requiring intervention from assistant coaches and officials to separate them.

Departure and Handshakes

Auriemma did not participate in the traditional post-game handshake with Staley or the South Carolina team, proceeding directly to the tunnel. Staley shook hands with members of UConn's staff.

Auriemma's Statements

Auriemma attributed the incident to a perceived breach of pre-game handshake protocol. He stated that he had waited at midcourt for approximately three minutes for Staley to engage in the customary pre-game handshake, which he believed did not occur. He also expressed frustration during an in-game interview prior to the fourth quarter, criticizing the officiating, the physical play of South Carolina, and Staley's sideline conduct regarding officials, referencing a player's torn jersey. Auriemma stated he believed a double standard existed in how sideline conduct was managed. He later stated, "I said what I had to say," and that he "told the truth."

Staley's Responses

Staley, when questioned about the interaction, stated she was unaware of what had occurred or what she might have done to upset Auriemma, asserting her integrity. She recalled shaking hands with members of Auriemma's staff pre-game.

Staley directed inquiries to Auriemma, stating, "He’s the one that initiated the conversation. I don’t want what happened there to dampen what we were able to accomplish today."

She also indicated that such incidents can occur in heated competitive environments and that she would address the matter at a later time, prioritizing her team's focus on the championship.

Reported Pre-Game Handshake and Apology

ESPN's broadcast footage reportedly showed a brief handshake between Staley and Auriemma before the game.

On Saturday, Auriemma issued a statement apologizing for his conduct. He stated there was "no excuse" for his actions, calling his reaction "uncalled for" and not consistent with UConn's standards. He apologized to the South Carolina staff and team, emphasizing his desire for his actions not to detract from South Carolina's performance.

The interaction occurred amidst a long-standing rivalry between the two prominent women's college basketball programs, which have collectively secured numerous national championships. Their rivalry has included past public exchanges regarding South Carolina's physical style of play.

Women's Championship Outcome

South Carolina advanced to the national championship game, where they were scheduled to play the winner of the Texas-UCLA semifinal. UCLA subsequently defeated Texas in their semifinal. South Carolina then defeated UCLA in the championship game, securing their fourth program title.

Men's NCAA Tournament: Progression to Final Four

The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament commenced with bracket reveals, followed by first-round games on Thursday. The tournament progressed through the second round, Sweet Sixteen, and Elite Eight, culminating in the Final Four.

Bracket Projections and Early Rounds

Brackets for the men's tournament were unveiled on Selection Sunday. Duke, Michigan, Arizona, and reigning champion Florida were anticipated top seeds. The tournament featured a significant number of star freshmen. Nebraska aimed for its first NCAA Tournament victory, ultimately securing its initial win against Troy in the first round.

The second round saw several lower seeds advance, including No. 11 VCU, No. 12 High Point, No. 11 Texas, and No. 10 Texas A&M. Notable eliminations included No. 1 seed Florida by No. 9 Iowa, and No. 4 seed Kansas by No. 5 St. John's.

The Big Ten conference sent six teams to the Sweet 16, while the ACC had only Duke advance.

Sweet Sixteen Outcomes

The Sweet Sixteen games took place from Thursday, March 26, to Friday, March 27.

  • Thursday, March 26:
    • No. 2 Purdue defeated No. 11 Texas 79-77.
    • No. 9 Iowa defeated No. 4 Nebraska 77-71.
    • No. 1 Arizona defeated No. 4 Arkansas 109-88.
    • No. 3 Illinois defeated No. 2 Houston 65-55.
  • Friday, March 27:
    • No. 1 Duke defeated No. 5 St. John's 80-75.
    • No. 1 Michigan defeated No. 4 Alabama 90-77.
    • No. 2 UConn defeated No. 3 Michigan State.
    • No. 6 Tennessee defeated No. 2 Iowa State.

Elite Eight Matchups and Results

The Elite Eight matchups, held on Saturday, March 28, and Sunday, March 29, determined the Final Four participants.

  • Saturday, March 28:
    • No. 3 Illinois defeated No. 9 Iowa.
    • No. 1 Arizona defeated No. 2 Purdue.
  • Sunday, March 29:
    • No. 1 Michigan defeated No. 6 Tennessee.
    • No. 2 UConn defeated No. 1 Duke.

Final Four and Championship Schedule

The Final Four national semifinals were scheduled for Saturday, April 4, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, broadcast on TBS.

  • No. 2 UConn defeated No. 3 Illinois 71-62, advancing to their third national championship game in four years.
  • No. 1 Michigan was scheduled to play No. 1 Arizona.

The championship game, featuring the winners of the Final Four, is scheduled for Monday, April 6, at 8:50 p.m. ET, broadcast on TBS, TNT, and truTV.

NCAA Tournament Expansion Discussion

Discussions continued regarding a potential expansion of the NCAA Tournament field beyond 68 teams. NCAA President Charlie Baker expressed support for growth, potentially to 72 or 76 teams, to increase at-large bids.

However, former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski voiced opposition, citing concerns that expansion could diminish the quality and unique appeal of March Madness, particularly with the impact of the transfer portal on team quality.

Krzyzewski also suggested the need for more centralized leadership in college basketball.